John Oliver’s beloved avian icon seizes glory as New Zealand’s ‘Bird of the Century’

admin 2024年1月26日

Beginner

world news, world news - beginner

©Peter Foulds/Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society via AP

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Have you ever heard about a bird called Pūteketeke?
Do you know why the Pūteketeke bird is special or unique?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

vote /voht/

[noun] – the act of showing your choice or opinion in an election or meeting by writing an X on an official piece of paper or putting your hand up
Citizens cast their vote to express their choice for the next community leader.

habit /HAB-it /

[noun] – something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it
Biting your nails can become a habit, often occurring unconsciously.

attention /uh-TEN-shuhn/

[noun] – act of focusing mental effort or awareness on a particular object, subject, or activity
During the lecture, the students paid close attention to the professor’s explanation.

challenge /CHAL-inj /

[noun] – (the situation of being faced with) something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person’s ability
The marathon presented a significant challenge for the participants.

system /SIS-tuhm /

[noun] – refers to a set of connected or interdependent elements or components that work together to achieve a particular purpose or function
The online voting system ensures a secure and efficient way for people to participate in elections.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

In New Zealand, the Pūteketeke, also known as the ‘puking’ bird, won the Bird of the Century title through a public vote with 290,000 votes. This special bird has black and white feathers, a cute parenting style, and a funny habit of “puking.” Comedian John Oliver supported it, drawing attention to the challenges faced by New Zealand’s native birds. The competition, started in 2005, aims to help these birds facing problems like losing their homes. Thanks to John Oliver, the online voting system crashed, showing the need to support endangered species like the Pūteketeke, which is making a comeback. Despite almost disappearing in the 19th century, this water bird is still at risk, stressing the importance of conservation.

John Oliver’s campaign for the Pūteketeke faced challenges, like exploiting a voting loophole and causing delays. The centennial event had controversies, but Oliver’s clever tactics, including billboards and a bird costume, highlighted New Zealand’s bird conservation. The Pūteketeke’s win, with 350,000 votes, showed Oliver’s successful efforts and the importance of raising awareness for endangered species, even with competition controversies.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

The Pūteketeke won the Bird of the Century title through a public vote.
John Oliver’s campaign for the Pūteketeke’s Bird of the Century title caused the online voting system to crash.
The Pūteketeke bird is known for its red and blue feathers.
The annual competition for native birds in New Zealand started in 2005.
Despite facing near-extinction in the 19th century, the Pūteketeke bird’s population is gradually rebounding.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

vote

habit

attention

challenge

system

The intriguing magic trick captured everyone’s __________, leaving the audience in awe of the magician’s skills.
In the town hall meeting, attendees actively participated by casting their __________ for the proposed community projects.
Learning to navigate the public transportation __________ in a new city is essential for residents and visitors alike.
Overcoming a difficult math problem can be a rewarding __________ for students who embrace the opportunity to learn and grow.
Completing daily tasks without much thought or conscious effort is often the result of a well-established ___________.